| Topic Name: |
BCG Associate offer for PhD - To take or not to take |
| Message Name: |
This is about right |
| Date Posted: |
05/07/2003 |
| In Reply To: |
I have recently completed my PhD from a leading Asian program in the area of supply chain management. I also have 1.5 years work experience prior to my PhD, which I completed in about 3 years. I have lots of leadership experience in various social forums.
I recently interviewed with BCG and received an offer for an entry-level Associate (post-undergrad) position. I am keen to take up the offer if it is for the position of Senior Associate or Consultant-in-Training.
I think I have a good chance of landing up a better position with the Big-4 given their interest in Supply Chain Management.
Is the offer a reflection of the state of the market or is this because BCG does not recognise Asian programs ?? (I know they take students from IIM at Senior Associate Level) Should I reconsider and take up the offer ?? What are the pros and cons of joining at Associate level after a PhD. I fear that it would be hard to explain to future employers why I took up the position after my PhD.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
-NVS |
| Message: |
Your work experience is too limited to qualify you for an "MBA" type / experienced hire slot.
An analyst slot which "could" be filled by an undergrad is not too far off the mark for a PhD with limited business experience. In more "normal" times a firm like BCG might have had an advanced placement program for PhDs which would give you a structured way to advance from limited experience + PhD ... maybe that is not availabnle now.
However, all the good strat firm swill only tend to hire people they believe in ... so if they made you an offer, it's best to proceed on the assumption that they will treat you "right" and allow you to advance as quickly as you prove your skills and as demand allows.
I would thus take this offer.
==
In addition, the Big 4 consultancies (Accenture, Bearing Point, etc) do not generally hire PhDs, and do not know what to do with them. It is unlikely you will get an offer from such a firm without bus experience ... they will give less weight to PhD than BCH, Bain, McK. If they do hire you, advancement will be more difficult than at BCG. Moreover the salary likely will be lower, and when you leave the Big 4 name will be less valued on your resume that BCG.
Take BCG & be very happy you have this opportunity.
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